DAILY NEWS

Daily News – 10, 11 & 12 Sep 2022 (Sat, Sun & Mon)

SINGAPORE REAL ESTATE

Five S-Reits with the lowest gearing ratios
On average, S-Reits have maintained an average gearing ratio of 36.8 per cent, based on latest company filings which were extracted in mid-August 2022. The 5 S-Reits with the lowest gearing ratios reported are Digital Core Reit, Sasseur Reit, Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust, SPH Reit, and IReit Global.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/five-s-reits-with-the-lowest-gearing-ratios

Rental, shared housing more appealing to young S’poreans, though most still want to own homes: Study
Singapore – More young Singaporeans, compared with older age groups, are considering renting and flat sharing as they find current property prices too high. Even then, most still intend to buy a home within the next two years, a consumer sentiment study released by real estate portal PropertyGuru last week showed.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/shared-housing-more-appealing-to-young-sporeans-though-most-still-want-to-own-homes-study

Future-proofing hotels
Hotels are back on their feet again after a 2-year lull, but how can they future-proof themselves against present and future threats including labour shortages, supply chain disruptions, climate change and even new pandemics?
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion/future-proofing-hotels

Istana Park expansion, pedestrianisation of Orchard Road stretch to be completed from 2025
Singapore – The Dhoby Ghaut area is set for a facelift that will be completed progressively from 2025, giving visitors more recreational options and a car-free environment to roam around.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/istana-park-expansion-pedestrianisation-of-500m-orchard-road-stretch-to-widen-recreational-options

SINGAPORE ECONOMY

Singapore ‘glad’ progress made on US-led Indo-Pacific economic pact: Gan Kim Yong
Singapore is glad that good progress has been made on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) since it was launched in May, Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Friday (Sep 9).
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/singapore-glad-progress-made-on-us-led-indo-pacific-economic-pact-gan-kim-yong
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/asia-pacific-nations-us-vow-to-build-more-resilient-supply-chains

Building bridges into the future of alternative investment
Singapore has long been considered a premier location for financial market participants to base their operations and has successfully built an environment encouraging innovation within a robust regulatory framework.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/special/building-bridges-into-the-future-of-alternative-investment

Singapore overall unemployment rate remains low, flat at 2.1% in July: MOM
Singapore’s unemployment rates in July remained low at pre-pandemic levels, according to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Friday (Sep 9). The overall unemployment rate held steady at 2.1 per cent, unchanged from the previous month.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/singapore-overall-unemployment-rate-remains-low-flat-at-21-in-july-mom

S’pore’s new work pass, a magnet for top talent
Top talents, rainmakers, outstanding achievers – all these terms have been flying about since Singapore announced changes to its work pass framework, headlined by the new Overseas Networks and Expertise (One) Pass.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/jobs/spores-new-work-pass-a-magnet-for-top-talent
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/jobs/c-suite-officers-those-with-rare-tech-skills-can-draw-30000-a-month-0
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/jobs/niche-work-passes-are-evolving-0
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/jobs/one-pass-many-options-to-help-woo-global-talent-0

COMPANIES’ BRIEF

ESR, GIC launch third core-plus logistics partnership with A$600m commitment
Real estate asset manager ESR Group on Friday (Sep 9) announced the launch of ESR Australia Logistics Partnership (EALP) III, the third iteration of its core-plus logistics strategy between the group’s Australian subsidiary, ESR Australia, and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/esr-gic-launch-third-core-plus-logistics-partnership-with-a600m-commitment

Straits Trading declares special dividend; shareholders to get dividend in shares
Straits Trading has declared a special dividend, distributing either ESR shares or Straits Trading shares to entitled shareholders. This special dividend comes after a strong H1 2022 results driven by the divestment of ARA Asset Management to ESR Group.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/straits-trading-declares-special-dividend-shareholders-to-get-dividend-in-shares

Straits Trading shares reasonably priced, but management must continue delivering value
Straits Trading is one company I have been watching with great interest over the last couple of years. Controlled by one of Singapore’s most respected business families, the group has an unlikely portfolio of businesses that were formed over the past decade through a bold repositioning of its legacy assets and shrewd corporate deals.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion/straits-trading-shares-reasonably-priced-but-management-must-continue-delivering-value

VIEWS, REVIEWS, FORUM AND OTHERS

Low labour costs, strong investor interest drawing S’pore start-ups into Vietnam
Singapore – The number of start-ups from Singapore venturing overseas through Enterprise Singapore’s Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) acceleration programmes has ballooned to more than 400 in less than five years.
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/low-labour-costs-strong-investor-interest-drawing-spore-start-ups-into-vietnam

Leadership skills to manage a hybrid workforce in post-pandemic era
If there’s one godsend from the pandemic, it’s the push towards greater work flexibility for both us and our employees. For most of us back in 2020, we probably felt cornered into offering hybrid work, simply because there wasn’t any other option to consider.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/leadership-management/leadership-skills-to-manage-a-hybrid-workforce-in-post-pandemic-era

What tech employees need to know to survive the global slowdown
As inflation bites, interest rates rise and a potential recession looms, the global tech sector is facing a major slowdown. Even Google parent company Alphabet, long seen as unassailable, is seeing growth falter. As the repercussions of an overheated tech market suddenly turning ice cold reverberate around the world, what does it mean for tech workers in the region?
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/leadership-management/what-tech-employees-need-to-know-to-survive-the-global-slowdown

More investors braving risk factor to make an impact in Asia
Asia is gaining ground as a destination for environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments, even though the region’s emerging markets are still relatively less mature. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has identified East and South-east Asia as “among the fastest-growing regions for impact investments”, said Justin Pooley, ESG manager for Asia and the Pacific at the World Bank-linked institution.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/more-investors-braving-risk-factor-to-make-an-impact-in-asia